Curtain-stretcher.



K. S. MoKBLVEY. CURTAIN STRETGHER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1911.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

.K. s. McKELVEY. CURTAIN STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1911. 1,024,905. 7

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WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..WAS}HNGTDN|'P C.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912..

3 SHEETSSHBET 2.

K. S. MGKBLVBY. CURTAIN STR'ETGHBR. APPLICATION rum) JAN. 24, 1911.

m. m 11E ,E 3 RS PM Am S May afnl m a D KATHARINE S. MCKELVEY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CURTAIN-STRE'IGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

Application filed. January 24, 1911. Serial No. 604,416.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KATHARINE S. Mo- KnLvnr, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to curtain stretchers, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a curtain stretcher with means in a manner as will be hereinafter set forth for adjustably holding one or more curtains upon the stretcher, whereby they can be thoroughly bleached or dried.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjust-able curtain stretcher having all the rails thereof in a common plane, thereby allowing curtains to be evenly stretched upon the rails.

A further object of the invention is to furnish a curtain stretcher with adjustable curtain holding pins that can be easily shifted in the rails of the stretcher.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a curtain stretcher consisting of comparatively few parts easily disassembled to occupy a comparatively small space when not in use.

A still further object of the invention is to accomplish the above results by a curtain stretcher that is simple in construction, durable, easy to handle, and efiicient for the purposes for which it is intended.

The above and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be presently described in detail and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the curtain stretcher, Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the same, Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of a portion of the same, Fig. 4 is a plan of the same, Fig. 5 is a plan of the top or bottom rail of the stretcher, Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the same, Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the curtain stretcher illustrating one of the adjustable rails thereof, Fig. 8 is a perspective .this connection between 7 view of a portion of one of the adjustable rails, Fig. 9 is a perspective .view of a detached adjustable pin, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a detached clamping member1 used in connection with the adjustable rai The reference numerals 1 and 2 generally denote the top and bottom rails respectively of the curtain stretcher and 3 and 4; the end rails thereof.

The top rail comprises two sections 5 and 6 having confronting ends thereof mortised, as at 7 to fit together. The two sections 5 and 6 are securely fastened together and held in alinement by a cleat or splice bar 9 fastened to the section 5 as by screws 8, and detachably-secured to the section 6 as by a bolt 10 and winged thumb nut 11, the latter being at the rear of the top rail; the sections 5 and 6 is employed whereby the top rail can be disassembled to occupy a comparatively small space when not in use. The lower edge of the top rail 1 is provided with a groove 12 extending from one end of said rail to the opposite end thereof, and the confronting side of said rail is provided further with two longitudinal kerfs 13 and 14 extending from one end of the top rail to the opposite end, the kerf 141 being cut at right angles to the outer face of the rail and the kerf 13 at an acute angle thereto, the provision of the kerf 13 providing the lower front edge of the rail with a beveled surface 15.

The end rails 3 and 1 have the confronting edgesthereof provided with kerfs 13 and 14 and grooves 12 siin'lar to those of the top rail 1,and the upper ends of the end rails 3 and 4: have tongues 16 adapted to engage in the groove 12 of the top rail 1. Suitably secured to the rear sides of the rails 3 and 4 at the upper ends thereof by screws or other fastening means 17 are clamping members 18, the upper ends of said members extending forwardly over the upper edge of the top rail 1 and having set screws 19 which can be adjusted to engage the upper edge of the rail 1 and hold said rail upon the tongues 16 of the end rails 3 and 4. The lower ends of the clamping members are provided with rearwardly extending apertured lugs 20 and pivotally connected to said lugs are hooks 21 carried by braces or legs 22, said braces or legs supporting the frames of the curtain stretcher at an inclination, whereby the sun can upon curtains held by the bleaching or drying purposes.

The bottom rail 2 is similar to the top rail 1, with the exception that the ends of the sections 5 and 6 are provided with tongues to engage in the grooves 12 of the end rails 3 and 4, and the rear side of the bottom rail 2 at the ends thereof is provided with clamping members 23 similar to the clamping members 18, with the exception that the apertured lugs 20 are dispensed with.

Movably mounted between the top and bottom rails l and 2 is an adjustable rail, comprising a bar 24 adapted to engage the rear sides of the top and bottom rails 1 and 2, said bar being held by clamping members 25 that extend over the rails and the ends of the bar 24, each clamping membe 1 having a depending extension 26 to engage the front side of the rail and a depending apertured lug 27 for a set screw 28 adapted to engage the rear side of the bar 24 at the ends thereof and fI'lCtlOIlHlly hold the ends of the bar in engagement with the rails 1 and 2. Secured upon the front side of the bar 24; is a longitudinal cleat 29 provided with kerfs similar to the kerfs of the top, bottom and end. rails and with tongues 30 adapted to engage in the confronting grooves 12 of the top and bottom rails 1 and 2.

Slidably mounted in the kerfs l3 and 14 of the rails l and 4t inclusive and in the adjustable rail 24 of the stretcher are a plurality of pins, each pin being made of a single piece of material comprising a point 31 adapted to protrude from the rails, a bill adapted to engage in the kerfs 14, and a retaining member 33 adapted to engage in the kerfs 13 and prevent accidental displacement of said pins. The pins are placed in the kerfs from the ends of the rails, particularly when said rails are disassembled;

From the foregoing it will be observed that the bottom rail 2 can be adjusted relatively to the top rail 1 to accommodate curtains of various widths, and that the adjustable rail can be adjusted relatively to the end rails 3 and f to accommodate curtains of various lengths. Sets of adjustable properly shine stretcher for rails of various lengths will accompany each stretcher, and with the stretcher made of light'and durable wood, the same when disassembled can be easily carried and stored away to occupy a comparatively small space when not in use. I attach considerable importance to the fact that the outer face of the rails with which a curtain contacts are all in a common plane, and since the pins can be easily adjusted, the curtain can be evenly and smoothly stretched upon the stretcher.

lVhat I claim is 2- A curtain stretcher comprising top, bot tom and end rails, said top and bottom rails formed of sections and united by a sub stantially V-shaped tongue and groove connection each provided with pin 'eceiving kerfs upon the front face thereof said top and bottom rails each having the inner edge thereof formed with a groove extending from end to end, said end rails provided with tongues extending in said grooves, clamping members secured to the rear faces of the end rails at the top thereof, and straddling the top rails, means extending through said clamping members and engaging the top rails for securing them to the end rails, rearwardly projecting lugs carried at the lower portions of the clamping members, supporting legs pivotally connected to said lugs, clamping members secured to said bottom rails and straddling the end. rails, means extending through said clamping members and engaging the end rails for securing them to the bottom rails, a shiftable stretching member formed of a front and back section, a tongue on the ends of said front sections to engage the grooves in the top and bottom rails, said back section extending beyond the edge of the rails at the top and bottom thereof, and means carried by said back section and straddling the top and bottom rails for slidably connecting said member to the said rails.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

KATHARINE S. MCKELVEY. lVitnesses Max H. Snonovrrz, KARL H. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 

